Echeveria plant named ‘AMIECH2102’

ABSTRACT

A new and distinct  Echeveria  hybrid plant named ‘AMIECH2102’ which is characterized by a compact rosette of loosely held succulent foliage, greyed-green juvenile foliage at the center of the rosette which is lightly suffused with greyed-purple, foliage which becomes progressively darker greyed-green and progressively suffused with greyed-purple as it matures, light greyed-green foliar margins which become progressively suffused with greyed-red as the foliage matures, and the stability of these characteristics from generation to generation.

Latin name of the genus and species: The Latin name of the genus and species of the novel variety disclosed herein is ((Echeveria pulidonis E. Walther x (Echeveria gibbiflora x Echeveria elegans)) x Echeveria lilacina Kimnach) x Echeveria agavoides.

Variety denomination: The inventive variety of Echeveria hybrid disclosed herein has been given the variety denomination ‘AMIECH2102’.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

Parentage: ‘AMIECH2102’ is an interspecific hybrid seedling selection resulting from the controlled pollination of an unnamed (Echeveria pulidonis E. Walther x (Echeveria gibbiflora x Echeveria elegans)) x Echeveria lilacina Kimnach & R.C. Moran plant (not patented), the seed parent, with an unnamed Echeveria agavoides plant (not patented), the pollen parent. The crossing was made by the inventor in the spring of 2017 at a commercial greenhouse in Heerhugowaard, the Netherlands. In summer of 2018, one seedling was observed which exhibited unique growth and foliage characteristics. The seedling was isolated for further evaluation in order to confirm the distinctness and stability of the characteristics first observed. Upon confirmation of distinctness and stability, ‘AMIECH2102’ was selected for commercialization.

Asexual Reproduction: Asexual reproduction of the new cultivar ‘AMIECH2102’, by way of rooting leaf cuttings, was first initiated in the summer of 2019 at the inventor's commercial greenhouse in Heerhugowaard, the Netherlands. Through three subsequent generations, the unique features of this cultivar have proven to be stable and true to type.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The cultivar ‘AMIECH2102’ has not been observed under all possible environmental conditions. The phenotype may vary somewhat with variations in environment such as temperature, day length, and light intensity, without, however, any variance in genotype. The following traits have been repeatedly observed and are determined to be the unique characteristics of ‘AMIECH2102’. These characteristics in combination distinguish ‘AMIECH2102’ as a new and distinct Echeveria hybrid cultivar:

-   -   1. ‘AMIECH2102’ exhibits a compact rosette of somewhat loosely         held foliage; and     -   2. ‘AMIECH2102’ exhibits thick, durable foliage; and     -   3. ‘AMIECH2102’ exhibits greyed-green juvenile foliage at the         center of the rosette which is lightly suffused with         greyed-purple; and     -   4. ‘AMIECH2102’ exhibits foliage which becomes progressively         darker greyed-green and progressively suffused with         greyed-purple as it matures, towards the outer whorls of the         rosette; and     -   5. ‘AMIECH2102’ exhibits light greyed-green foliar margins which         become progressively suffused with greyed-red as the foliage         matures, towards the outer whorls of the rosette.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE FIGURES

FIG. 1 illustrates, as nearly true as it is reasonably possible to make the same in color photographs of this type, an exemplary plant of ‘AMIECH2102’ grown in a commercial greenhouse in Heerhugowaard, the Netherlands. This plant is approximately 30 weeks old, shown planted in an 11.5 cm container.

FIG. 2 illustrates, as nearly true as it is reasonably possible to make the same in color photographs of this type, the typical foliage arrangement of ‘AMIECH2102.

FIG. 3 illustrates, as nearly true as it is reasonably possible to make the same in color photographs of this type, the adaxial surface of the mature foliage ‘AMIECH2102’.

FIG. 4 illustrates, as nearly true as it is reasonably possible to make the same in color photographs of this type, the abaxial surface of the mature foliage ‘AMIECH2102’.

BOTANICAL DESCRIPTION OF THE PLANT

The following observations and measurements made in February of 2022 describe averages from a sample set of six specimens of 30-week-old ‘AMIECH2102’ plants grown in 11.5 cm nursery containers at commercial greenhouse in Heerhugowaard, the Netherlands. Plants were produced using conventional greenhouse production protocols for Echeveria plants which consisted of minimal irrigation and fertilizer applications, and chemical pest and disease control measures against mealy bug and Botrytis as required. Plants were grown under approximately 50 percent shade after propagation and later exposed to full sun once they began to mature. No photoperiodic treatments or artificial light was given to the plants.

Those skilled in the art will appreciate that certain characteristics will vary with older or, conversely, with younger plants. ‘AMIECH2102’ has not been observed under all possible environmental conditions. Where dimensions, sizes, colors and other characteristics are given, it is to be understood that such characteristics are approximations or averages set forth as accurately as practicable. The phenotype of the variety may differ from the descriptions set forth herein with variations in environmental, climatic and cultural conditions. Color notations are based on The Royal Horticultural Society Colour Chart, The Royal Horticultural Society, London, 2015 (sixth edition).

A botanical description of ‘AMIECH2102’ and comparisons with the parent plants and closest known comparator are provided below.

-   Plant description:     -   -   Growth habit.—Succulent perennial with foliage growing in a             non-branched basal rosette.         -   Plant shape.—Flattened globular.         -   Height from soil level to top of foliar plane.—8.2 cm.         -   Plant spread.—Average of 14.7 cm.         -   Growth rate.—Moderately fast growing.         -   Plant vigor.—Moderately vigorous.         -   Propagation.—Type — Leaf cuttings. Time to initiate rooting             — Approximately 21 days at 18 degrees Celsius. Crop time —             Approximately 35 weeks to produce a marketable plant in a 7             cm container.         -   Disease and pest resistance or susceptibility.—Neither             resistance nor susceptibility to typical Echeveria pests and             diseases has been observed.         -   Environmental tolerances.—Adapt to, at least, USDA Zones 10             to 12 and temperatures as high as 40 degrees Celsius;             moderate tolerance to rain yet drought tolerant once             established; high tolerance to wind. -   Root system:     -   -   General.—Fine, well-branched fibrous roots. -   Stems:     -   -   Branching habit.—Leaves in a non-branching basal rosette; no             main branches or lateral branches present. -   Foliage:     -   -   Arrangement.—Rosette.         -   Division.—Simple.         -   Attachment.—Sessile.         -   Quantity.—Approximately 50 leaves per rosette.         -   Shape.—Obovate.         -   Dimensions.—6.6 cm long, 2.5 cm wide, and 0.7 cm thick, on             average.         -   Aspect.—Slightly concave and curled upward, distally.         -   Attitude.—Juvenile foliage at the center of the rosette is             held erect; foliage becomes progressively more relaxed             towards the outer whorls of mature foliage which lay nearly             horizontal.         -   Apex.—Broad apiculate.         -   Base.—Cuneate.         -   Margin.—Ciliate with very short greyed-green hairs, nearest             to RHS 193D, and an average length of 0.2 mm; margins are             not undulate.         -   Pubescence, texture and luster of the adaxial             surface.—Smooth, glabrous, and glossy.         -   Pubescence, texture and luster of the abaxial             surface.—Smooth, glabrous, glaucous, and moderately glossy.         -   Color.—Juvenile foliage, adaxial surface — Nearest to a             mixture of green and yellow-green, RHS NN137A and 147A, and             becoming suffused with greyed-purple distally, nearest to             RNS 184A; fading to a combination of yellow-green and             greyed-green towards the base, RHS 147D and 195C; margins             are greyed-green, nearest to a combination of RHS 193B and             194C; laminar tip is nearest to RHS 185A. Juvenile foliage,             abaxial surface — Greyed-green, nearest to a RHS 191A;             becoming slightly darker towards the apex, nearest to RHS             189A, and slightly lighter towards the base, nearest to RHS             192A; margined greyed-green, nearest to RHS 192D, and             becoming suffused with greyed-purple distally, nearest to             RHS 184A. Adaxial foliar surface is covered with a very thin             layer of greyed-green epicuticular wax, nearest to RHS 188C.             Mature foliage, adaxial surface — Nearest to a mixture of             green and yellow-green, RHS NN137A and 147A; fading to             greyed-green towards the base, nearest to a mixture of RHS             194B, 194C, and 194D; margined and tipped greyed-red,             nearest to RHS 182A. Mature foliage, abaxial surface —             Brown, nearest to a mixture of RHS 200D, and strongly             suffused with greyed-purple, nearest to RHS N186C; fading to             greyed-green towards the base, nearest to a mixture of RHS             194B, 194C, and 194D; margined and tipped greyed-red,             nearest to RHS 182A. Adaxial foliar surface is covered with             a very thin layer of greyed-green epicuticular wax, nearest             to RHS 188C. Venation, adaxial surface — No visible             venation. Venation, abaxial surface — No visible venation.         -   Petiole.—No petiole; leaves are sessile. -   Inflorescence: No flowering has been observed to date. -   Comparisons with the parent plants and closest known comparator:     Plants of the new cultivar ‘AMIECH2102’ differ from the seed parent,     an unnamed ((Echeveria pulidonis E. Walther x (Echeveria gibbiflora     x Echeveria elegans)) x Echeveria lilacina Kimnach) plant, in the     following characteristics described in Table 1 below.

TABLE 1 Characteristic ‘AMIECH2102’ The seed parent. Foliage shape. Shorter and broader than Longer and narrower the seed parent. than ‘AMIECH2102’. General coloration Dark greyed-green and Light greyed-green. of the suffused with dark greyed- mature foliage. purple; margins are a bright greyed-red.

-    Plants of the new cultivar ‘AMIECH2102’ differ from the pollen     parent, an unnamed Echeveria agavoides plant (not patented), in the     following characteristics described in Table 2 below.

TABLE 2 Characteristic ‘AMIECH2102’ The pollen parent. General Dark greyed-green and Light yellow-green and lightly coloration suffused with dark greyed- covered with a very thin layer of the purple; margins are a of very light greyed-green mature bright greyed-red. epicuticular wax. foliage.

-   Comparisons with the closest known comparator: Plants of the new     cultivar ‘AMIECH2101’ differ from the closest known commercial     comparator, Echeveria hybrid ‘AMIECH2102’ (for which a U.S. Plant     patent application Ser. No. 17/803,330 filed concurrently with the     instant application), in the following characteristics described in     Table 3 below.

TABLE 3 Characteristic ‘AMIECH2102’ ‘AMIECH2101’ Plant size. Larger than Smaller than ‘AMIECH2101’. ‘AMIECH2102’. Foliage Less abundant than More abundant than abundance. ‘AMIECH2101’. ‘AMIECH2102’. Foliage size. Larger than Smaller than ‘AMIECH2101’. ‘AMIECH2102’. General A lighter shade of greyed- A darker shade of greyed- coloration green with less greyed- green and more heavily of the purple suffusion, relative suffused with greyed- mature foliage. to ‘AMIECH2101’. purple. 

That which is claimed is:
 1. A new and distinct variety of ((Echeveria pulidonis E. Walther x (Echeveria gibbiflora x Echeveria elegans)) x Echeveria lilacina Kimnach) x Echeveria agavoides plant named ‘AMIECH2102’, substantially as described and illustrated herein. 